Spacing Connector for Toy Construction Set

ABSTRACT

A spacing connector for a rod and connector type construction toy set enabling rod and connector assemblies of known types to be joined in a new manner, spaced laterally one from the other and, if desired, rotatable with respect to each other. The new spacing connectors connect at ninety degrees to each of a pair of standard K&#39;NEX connectors and enable the standard connectors to be joined in parallel relation. The spacing connectors have, at opposite ends, positioning elements engageable with central hubs of the standard connectors, and anti-rotation elements engageable with openings formed in the standard connectors in surrounding relation to their hubs. The spacing connectors frictionally engage with the standard connectors to secure the assembled relationship. The hub-engaging positioning elements have an axial length not more than one-half the thickness of a standard connector, enabling spacing connectors to be inserted simultaneously from both sides of a standard connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of construction toy sets and more particularly to rod and connector construction toy sets of the type widely marketed under the registered trademark K'NEX. Examples of relevant construction toy sets are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,061,219, 5,199,919, and 5,350,331, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical K'NEX construction toy set, as described in, for example, the above mentioned US patents, is comprised of a series of rods and connectors. The connectors are formed with one or more rod-receiving sockets arranged radially about a hub, with axes of adjacent sockets typically spaced at 45 degree intervals. The sockets are configured to accommodate lateral snap-in assembly of rods into the sockets. A basic type of connector is of flat configuration and is arranged to receive one or more rods disposed in the plane of the flat connector. Three dimensional structures can be assembled through the use of special three-dimensional connectors, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,486, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, in which arrays of sockets are formed in two planes disposed at right angles to each other. Additionally, the configurations of the sockets and rods of the toy sets are such that rods can be inserted crosswise into a connector socket and gripped and held at right angles to the axis of the socket and to the plane of the connector. While this arrangement allows a wide variety of three dimensional structures to be assembled, there is a limitation on the sites at which three dimensional construction may be initiated, as it requires access to an unoccupied connector socket, available to receive and grip a rod at right angles, or to a three dimensional connector. The present invention provides a novel form of spacing connector, which enables lateral connections between subassemblies to be made at additional sites on the subassemblies, without involving three dimensional connectors or the crosswise reception of a rod in an available connector socket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pursuant to the invention, a special spacing connector is provided in which a connector body is formed with spaced apart pair of end members, facing in opposite directions with each end member being provided with connector-engaging projections engageable with a flat connector from either or both sides thereof. Each such spacing connector is adapted to engage with a flat side of a flat connector in a manner to join the connectors, and entire assemblies of which the connectors may form a part, in a laterally spaced apart manner. The end members can be spaced apart different predetermined distances such that the connected subassemblies can be controllably separated. To this end, a pair of end members may be rigidly connected in spaced relation by means of a spacing rod of predetermined length, such that, in a set of parts, spacing connectors may be provided in several overall lengths, as a function of the length of the spacing rods incorporated therein. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a minimum spacing length of a spacing connector corresponds to the thickness of a basic connector, in which case the two end members of the spacing connector can be joined together as a unitary body, without the use of a spacing rod to join them.

A basic K'NEX connector comprises a tubular hub, located at an intersection of the axes of a plurality of radially arrayed sockets, of which there may be as many as eight, spaced apart at angles of 45 degrees. In addition each of the sockets of a standard connector is spaced radially outward from the hub a short distance. In the design of the standard connector, which is formed of a molded plastic material, an opening of trapezoidal shape is provided between the hub and each of the individual sockets of the connector. Pursuant to the invention, each of the oppositely facing end members of a spacing connector is formed with a positioning element, located on a main axis of the spacing connector and of a size and shape to be received in and frictionally gripped by the tubular hub of a standard connector. Additionally, each end member is provided with at least one, and preferably two, anti-rotation elements spaced radially outward from the positioning element, on opposite sides thereof. The anti-rotation elements are configured to be received in and frictionally engaged with a pair of the trapezoidal openings in the basic connector, such that the spacing connector is firmly gripped by the standard connector and is non-rotatable with respect thereto. When two laterally spaced K'NEX subassemblies are joined together, one attached to each end of a spacing connector, a new type of three dimensional structure can be formed. Such subassemblies can be connected by a plurality of the spacing connectors appropriate to the size and configuration of the overall structure.

In one preferred form of the invention, the spacing connector may comprise a pair of end members as generally described above which are joined together in a manner such that one end member is rotatable with respect to the other. Accordingly, when two subassemblies are joined by such a spacing connector, one of the subassemblies will be rotatable with respect to the other.

For the more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention reference should be made to the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a spacing connector embodying principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spacing connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the spacing connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic view of a modified form of spacing connector according to the invention, in which the connector has a minimum effective length.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top plan and end elevational views respectively of the modified spacing connector of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view showing a standard connector of a K'NEX construction toy set, with a spacing connector according to the invention assembled therewith from the back side.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing two spacing connectors of the invention assembled with a standard K'NEX connector, from opposite sides thereof.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing a pair if standard K'NEX connectors joined by a spacing connector according to the invention, with a second spacing connector joined with one of the standard connectors.

FIG. 12 is an orthographic view of a modified form of spacing connector according to the invention, in which opposite ends of the spacing connector are rotatable, one with respect to the other.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view illustrating individual components of the spacing connector of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the spacing connector of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view, partly in section showing details of one of the parts of the spacing connector of FIG. 12

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates generally a spacing connector according to the invention, which is comprised of first and second end members 11, 12 which are rigidly mounted at opposite ends of a spacing rod 13. The spacing connector 10 is designed and adapted to interface with standard connectors 14 (FIG. 7) of a type typically forming part of a known K'NEX construction toy kit. The representative connector 14, is molded of a suitable plastic material, such as Celcon (Celcon is the registered trademark of Celanese Corporation for certain of its acetal copolymers.) and has a central hub 15 forming a cylindrical opening 16 extending through the connector. A plurality of rod-receiving sockets 17 are arrayed radially about the hub 15 and each socket is disposed on a radial axis 18 passing through the center of the hub. The illustrated connector 14 has eight rod-receiving sockets 17 radially spaced from each other at 45 degrees. Some connectors (not shown) may have fewer than eight sockets, although typically the sockets will be arrayed on an angular spacing of 45 degrees. A variety of such connectors is disclosed in the before-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,331.

Each of the sockets 17 of the connector 14 is adapted to receive an end of a standard K'NEX rod 19, examples of which are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,331. A typical such rod 19 has a flanged end 20, an annular groove 21, a cylindrical gripping portion 22 adjacent to the groove 21, and a central stem portion 23, which can be of various predetermined lengths. The connector sockets 17 are formed with opposed transverse ribs 24, which engage the annular groove 21 of a rod received therein to lock the rod against axial movement. The radially outer portions of the sockets are formed by grooved gripping arms 25 which flex sufficiently to receive a lateral snap-in insertion of a rod into the socket and serve to grip and retain a rod positioned in the socket.

As reflected in FIG. 7 the bottom walls 26 of the rod-receiving sockets 17 are spaced outward from the hub 15 a short distance, and are connected to the hub by radial spokes 27. The several bottom walls 26, and spokes 27, together with the annular hub 15, form a plurality of openings 28 of generally trapezoidal shape. A typical standard connector 14, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is of a flat configuration, with parallel end faces 29, 30. In one embodiment, the connector 14 may have a thickness of about one-fourth inch.

Each of the end members 11, 12 of the spacing connector 10 is provided with elements to interface with the flat end faces 29, 30 of the connector 14. In the centers of the end members 11, 12, aligned with the axis of the spacing rod 13, are positioning elements 31, 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning elements 31, 32 are in the form of short, generally cylindrical projections provided on the exterior thereof with a plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of axially extending ribs 33. The effective diameter of the ribbed positioning elements 31, 32 is such that they may be inserted into the hub 15 of a standard connector and be firmly frictionally gripped within the hub, by the surrounding walls thereof, so as to be self-retaining in assembled relation. The end members 11, 12 also mount at least one, and preferably a pair of anti-rotation elements 34, 35. The anti-rotation elements 34, 35 preferably are positioned on opposite sides of the positioning elements 31, 32, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The positioning of the anti-rotation elements is such that, when a positioning element 31, 32 is inserted into the hub 15 of a connector 14, the anti-rotation elements 34, 35 are received in an opposed pair of trapezoidal openings 28 in the connector 14, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the anti-rotation elements 34, 35 have a T-shaped cross sectional configuration with the crossbar portion 36 thereof received in the wider side of a trapezoidal opening 28 and preferably extending across the full width of the wider side so as to be frictionally gripped at the sides by the radial spokes 27. The stem portions 37 of the anti-rotation elements are disposed radially with respect to the axis of the spacing rod 13 and are of a length to extend into contact with the outer wall of the hub 15. The arrangement is such that the stem portions 37 are frictionally engaged with the hub 15 and also hold the crossbar 36 tightly against the outer wall 26 which forms the wide side of the opening 28. The anti-rotation elements are thus frictionally engaged with the walls of the openings 28 in which they are inserted. Desirably, the length of the anti-rotation elements 34, 35 is approximately equal to the thickness of the connector 14 in order to optimize frictional engagement with the connector. The positioning elements 31, 32, on the other hand, have an axial length that is approximately one-half the thickness of a connector 14, and in no event greater than one-half the connector thickness. This enables an opposed pair of spacing connectors 10 to be inserted into the same standard connector 14, from opposite sides thereof, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this respect, the anti-rotation elements 34, 35 can extend for the full width of the connector 14 because the elements 34, 35 of opposed spacing connectors 10 can be inserted into different openings 28 (see FIG. 10), whereas the positioning elements 31, 32 necessarily are received in the hub 15 from opposite sides and thus cannot extend more than half way.

A typical usage of a spacing connector 10 is to assemble a pair of subassemblies in laterally spaced apart relation, as indicated in FIG. 11, which shows a pair of standard connectors 14, 14 a joined by a spacing connector 10. It is understood, of course, that additional structure (not shown) is joined to the connectors 14, 14 a to form subassemblies comprised of multiple parts. Additionally the spacing connectors may be utilized to form stacked arrangements of subassemblies. In FIG. 11, showing two laterally spaced subassemblies represented by the standard connectors 14, 14 a, there is shown a second spacing connector 10 a, which is inserted into the connector 14 a and allows a third subassembly (not shown) to be attached to the opposite end (not shown) of the second spacing connector 10. As will be understood, many layers of subassemblies may be joined in stacked relation. In this respect, it will also be understood that connected subassemblies may be, and typically would be, joined by a plurality of spacing connectors. Additionally, where more than two layers of subassemblies are to be stacked, as reflected in FIG. 11, it is not necessary that successive stages of spacing connectors 10, 10 a be installed in opposite sides of the same connecter, as shown with the connector 14 a in FIG. 11, but the configuration of the spacing connectors according to the invention makes it possible to do that where desired.

The spacing connectors 10, as represented in FIGS. 1-3, 8 and 9 may be provided in any length, as a function of the length of the spacing rods 13. In a typical K'NEX construction toy set, rod elements are provided in several lengths according to a specific sequence in which a rod of length L₁, when joined to a connector, may function as one side of a right triangle, the hypotenuse of which is formed by a rod of the next greater length L2. The spacing rods 13 may be provided in graduated sizes such that the spacing connectors can be compatible with existing geometric relationships of the K'NEX toy sets. As is evident if FIGS. 1 and 2, the spacing rods 13 may have an X-shaped cross section, corresponding to the cross sections of standard K'NEX rods. Accordingly, where desired, the spacing rods 13 may be engaged crosswise within the socket of a standard K'NEX connector, providing yet another way in which structural assembles may be extended.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, there is shown a spacing connector 40 of minimum length, preferably of a length approximating the thickness of a standard connector 14. The spacing connector 40, like the spacing connector 10, is a unitary molding of a suitable plastic material, such as Celcon. The connector 40 comprises a body 41, one side 42 of which forms a first end member and the other side 43 of which forms a second end member. The end members 42, 43 have the same purpose and function as the end members 11, 12 of the first-described spacing connector 10. Positioning elements 44, 45 extend axially from the respective end members 42, 43 for a distance corresponding to approximately one-half, but more than one-half the thickness of a standard connector 14. The positioning elements 44, 45 are configured the same as the positioning elements 31, 32, with axial ribs 46 arranged to frictionally engage with the hub 15 of a standard connector. Pairs of anti-rotation elements 47, 48, extend from the respective end members 42, 43. As with the previously described spacing connector 10, the anti-rotation elements 47, 48 may be of a T-shaped configuration, of a size and shape to engage frictionally with trapezoidal openings 28 in a standard connector 14.

In FIGS. 12-15 there is shown a minimum length spacing connector, similar to that of FIGS. 4-6, in which the respective end members 51, 52 are rotatable with respect to each other. The arrangement is such that two subassemblies can be joined in laterally spaced relation, with one of the subassemblies being rotatable with respect to the other. Each of the end members 51, 52 is formed with an opposed pair of anti-rotation elements 53, 54 of T-shaped configuration corresponding to the previously described anti-rotation elements 34, 35 and 47, 47 and sized and shaped to be frictionally engaged with openings 28 of a standard connector 14. One of the end members, in this instance the end member 52, is provided with a centrally located and axially extending positioning element 55. The positioning element 55 is provided with axial ribs and is adapted for frictionally engaged reception within a hub 15 of a standard connector 14. As with the other spacing connectors, the positioning element has an axial length, projecting beyond the outer end surface 56 of the end member 52, of approximately one-half the thickness of a standard connector, and in no case more than one-half such thickness, in order to allow for spacing connectors be inserted from both sides of the same connector, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 13, the end member 52 of the spacing connector 50 is formed with a second axial projection 57, extending from the opposite side from the positioning element 55. The axial projection 57 is cylindrical in form and is provided with an annular retaining rib 58 in its middle portion. Additionally, the axial projection 57 is bifurcated by an axially extending slot 59 which extends from the outer end 60 of the projection 57 to a point near its base 61. The slot 59 enables the two sides of the projection 57 to be resiliently compressed laterally to accommodate assembly of the respective end members 51, 52 as described below.

In the exploded view of FIG. 13, it can be seen that the end member 51 is provided with a central opening 62 to receive the axial projection 57. The diameter of the opening 62 is less than the outer diameter of the annular rib 58 but slightly greater than the diameter of the axial projection 57. In its upper portion, the opening 62 has a recess 63 of enlarged diameter, of a size to freely receive the annular retaining rib 58. In order to assemble the two end members 51, 52, the axial projection 57 is initially inserted part way into the opening 62, until the annular rib 58 engages the inner face of the end member 51. At that point sufficient axial pressure may be applied to the two end members to cause the sides of the slotted projection 57 to be squeezed together until the annular rib 58 is able to pass through the opening 62. When the rib 58 reaches the enlarged recess 63. In the upper portion of the opening, the two sides of the bifurcated projection 57 expand back to their original positions, with the annular rib 58 received in the enlarged recess 63, locking the two end members 51, 52 in assembled relation, with one end member being freely rotatable with respect to the other.

Preferably, the inner face 64 of the end member 51 is provided with a circular rib 65 (FIG. 15) which closely surrounds the opening 62. The circular rib is arranged to bear on the inner face 66 of the end member 52 to localize and minimize frictional contact between the two end members.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the slotted axial projection 57 extends beyond the outer face 67 of the end member 51 a distance approximately equal to but not more than one-half the thickness of a connector 14, and the extending portion serves the same function as the positioning element 55. In this respect, the at-rest diameter of the slotted projection 57 is somewhat greater than the internal diameter of the hub 15 of the connector 14. Accordingly, when the projection 57 is inserted into a hub 15, the opposite sides of the projection 57 are compressed toward each other to establish a frictional engagement between the hub and the projection. The extent of the compression of the slotted projection 57 is, however, less than the height of the annular retaining rib 58, such that the two parts of the spacing connector 50 remain secured in their assembled relation after partial compression of the axial projection upon its insertion into a connector hub 15.

In any of its various forms, the spacing connector of the invention significantly expands the types of structures that can be assembled with a K'NEX construction toy set by enabling a spacing connector to be inserted into a standard connector from one or both sides thereof. This allows structures to be easily stacked, either vertically or horizontally, in a completely different manner than has been possible heretofore.

It should be understood, however, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only and do not in any way limit or restrict the scope of the invention. Accordingly reference should be made to the following claims in making any determination of the full scope of our invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A spacing connector for a rod and connector construction toy set, where the construction toy set includes a plurality of rod elements and a plurality of connector elements and where said connector elements comprise a hub having a cylindrical opening extending axially through the connector element and defining a hub axis, each of said connector elements having a plurality of rod-receiving sockets disposed in a radially spaced array about said hub with axes of the respective rod-receiving sockets being disposed in a common plane, arrayed at a 45 degree angle to each other and intersecting with said hub axis, said connector element further defining a transverse opening associated with each rod-receiving socket, positioned between a radially inner end of the socket and said hub and extending from one side to the other of said connector element, and said connector element being of flat configuration defined by flat, parallel opposite sides and of predetermined thickness corresponding to a diameter of said rod elements, said spacing connector comprising a body having a body axis and first and second end surfaces facing in opposite axial directions with on said body axis, first and second positioning elements projecting axially outward from the respective first and second end surfaces along said body axis, said positioning elements being of a size and shape to have a frictionally gripped fit within the cylindrical opening of a connector element hub, said positioning elements having an axial length, projecting from said end surfaces, of approximately one-half, but not more than one-half, the thickness of a connector element, such that positioning elements of a pair of spacing connectors can inserted into the same connector element hub from opposite sides thereof, at least one anti-rotation element extending from each of the end surfaces of said spacing connector, spaced radially a predetermined distance from and extending parallel to said body axis, said predetermined distance corresponding to the radial distance from the hub axis of said connector element to a transverse opening in said connector element, and said at least one anti-rotation element being configured for frictional engagement within a transverse opening of a connector element.
 2. A spacing connector according to claim 1, wherein each of said end surfaces is provided with a pair of anti-rotation elements positioned on opposite sides of said body axis and adapted for reception in a pair of transverse openings in a connector element, on opposite sides of the hub axis of the connector element.
 3. A spacing connector according to claim 1, wherein the transverse openings of a connector element are of a trapezoidal configuration defined by inner and outer walls, disposed at right angles to a radial axis extending from a rod socket of the connector element to the hub of the connector element, said outer walls being longer than inner walls, and radially disposed side walls connecting said inner and outer walls, and said anti-rotation elements having a T-shaped cross section, comprising stem portions and crossbar portions, said anti-rotation elements being oriented such that, when an anti-rotation element is inserted into a transverse opening, stem portions of said anti-rotation element are aligned with an axis of a rod-receiving socket of a connector element and crossbar portions of said anti-rotation element are positioned adjacent to outer walls of the transverse opening.
 4. A spacing connector according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises spaced apart, transversely disposed end members and a spacing rod extends between and is rigidly affixed to said end members, said first and second end surfaces comprise outwardly facing surfaces of said end members, and said at least one anti-rotation element is mounted to and extends in an axial direction from each of said end members, said anti-rotation elements being spaced laterally from an axis of said spacing rod.
 5. A spacing connector according to claim 4, wherein said anti-rotation elements are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said spacing rod.
 6. A spacing connector according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end surfaces of said body are spaced apart a distance corresponding to a thickness of said connector element,
 7. A spacing connector according to claim 6, wherein said body, said positioning elements, and said anti-rotation elements comprise a unitary molded component of plastic material.
 8. A spacing connector according to claim 1, wherein said body is comprised of first and second body elements movably joined together for rotation, one with respect to the other, about said body axis, axially outer surfaces of said first and second body elements forming said first and second end surfaces, said first body element having an axial opening extending therethrough, said second body element having an axial projection of a diameter corresponding to a diameter of said axial opening, said axial projection extending through said axial opening and serving to mount said first body element for rotation with respect to said second body element.
 9. A spacing connector according to claim 8, wherein said axial projection has a base end closely adjacent to said second body element and a projecting end spaced axially from said base end, said axial projection has a retaining element of enlarged diameter positioned between said base end and said projecting end, and said first body element has an annular surface within said axial opening positioned to engage said retaining element to secure said body elements in assembled relation.
 10. A spacing connector according to claim 9, wherein said axial projection has at least one axially extending slot therein to accommodate radially inward resilient flexing of portions of said axial projection during insertion of said axial projection into said axial opening and subsequent outward flexing of said portions to secure said body elements in assembled relation.
 11. A spacing connector according to claim 10 wherein said retaining element comprises a circumferential rib, extending around said axial projection, interrupted by said at least one axially extending slot.
 12. A spacing connector according to claim 9, wherein said axial projection has an axial length greater than a thickness of said first body member, whereby an end portion of said axial projection extends beyond the axial end surface of said first body member by a distance approximately equal to but not in excess of one-half the thickness of a connector element and serves as the positioning element of said first body member.
 13. A spacing connector according to claim 8, wherein said first body element is provided, on an inside axial face thereof, with an circular rib surrounding said axial opening and bearing on an inside axial face of said second body element. 